Backers of Shakopee mural aim for 'big and splashy'

Lifelong Shakopee resident John Schroers remembers when downtown really hummed with activity. But newer residents don't always share his fondness for the area.

"Our main street, downtown, was the center of everything we did back in my youth," said Schroers. "I've recently met folks who've lived in Shakopee maybe 10 years or more who've never been downtown."

Now Schroers, who has owned a local framing shop for nearly 40 years, has joined a group of volunteers working with the Shakopee Chamber and Visitors Bureau to aid in the revitalization of downtown by improving its design and showcasing the community's history.

As one of its first big projects, the group will commission a 1,000-square-foot mural. It will run along the retaining wall that separates downtown and the Minnesota River, and through the Holmes Street pedestrian tunnel.

"We wanted to do something big and splashy and then continue all of these other design efforts and projects as we go along," said Laura Pecaut, project coordinator for the chamber. "This will bring attention to it and really beautify a space that is of importance to downtown, connecting us to the riverfront."

The group is in the early stages of planning the mural. It will be soliciting ideas and reactions from the community before choosing a subject and a muralist, and it will likely be spring before painting begins. But leaders say they already know that they want the mural to reflect the community's history.

"Each time we meet, we get really excited about what it could look like," Pecaut said. "We want it to tell the story of Shakopee."

Her first job was applying for the Main Street designation from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. In order to earn the designation, the chamber had to show that the city was committing substantial resources and staff time to preserving the downtown. It must also pay a $2,000 annual membership fee.

In return, Main Street communities get access to training and support to help revitalize downtown districts and maintain their historic infrastructure.

Seven Minnesota communities have the Main Street designation, including cities that are known for their historic character, such as Red Wing, New Ulm and Winona.

The mural is a project of the design committee of Main Street Shakopee. Other volunteer committees focus on economic development, community organizing and promotion. Since the city received the Main Street designation this summer, the committees have been slowly ramping up their efforts to attract visitors downtown, holding events like a mini-golf tournament and a day of pedicab rides.

The design committee has other projects on its radar, like improving signage and beautifying other downtown areas. But it decided to start with the mural in hopes of getting the word out about Main Street Shakopee and plans for downtown revitalization.

The committee expects the mural to cost about $30,000, but that's a very rough estimate. Muralists can charge anywhere from $10 to $35 per square foot. The committee could reduce costs by seeking paint grants — free paint for community projects — and other in-kind gifts such as ladders and brushes.

Some of the funds will come from large donors, but the committee is hoping to raise $8,000 to $10,000 from small contributions. Leaders are considering all sorts of ways to raise that money, from a Kickstarter.com campaign to selling tickets for people to participate in the mural painting.

"What we want to do is have fun with it, but also find ways that we can make it happen," Pecaut said. "If that includes people pitching in painting or people pitching in a couple bucks, we're gonna give them a try."

The committee is eager to get residents involved with mural planning. It's launching a campaign for ideas and support from the community at a celebration downtown on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. . The launch party, at the Holmes Street tunnel, will have live music by Loosely Wound, chalk art for children and a presentation on the plans for the mural.

Next, there's an open meeting for Shakopee residents to share ideas about the kind of mural they hope for and the kind of muralist the committee should hire. Some muralists work independently, designing and painting murals on their own, while others encourage more community participation.

It's not yet clear whether the mural will receive any municipal funding. But Scott County, which owns the area that will be painted, supports the project. And as the idea has gone through the permitting process, it has received lots of enthusiasm from local officials, Pecault said.

If the mural is a success, the planners hope to make it even bigger, so that it covers the entire wall drivers see as they drive south on County Road 101 into Shakopee — a road that's being enlarged and will see more traffic.

Supporters hope that the mural, and other projects led by Main Street Shakopee, will help attract visitors from surrounding communities.

"We hope that the mural will instill a little pride in our community," Schroers said. "It might be informative to our new residents who know nothing about Shakopee."

Dylan Peers McCoy is a Twin Cities freelance journalist.